Work table having multiposition extension board

ABSTRACT

A work table having an extension board at an edge thereof and mounting mechanism by which the board may be positioned alternatively in any one of three positions, in one of which the board extends from the edge of the table, in another of which the board projects upwardly adjacent said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop, and in the third of which the board is stowed beneath the table.

United States Patent Pettit et al. 1 June 27, 1972 541 WORK TABLE HAVING2,449,903 9/1948 Langstaff ..108/69 MULTIPOSITION EXTENSION BOARD2,691,559 10/ 1954 Harry 108/4 2,850,341 9/1958 Spinner. .....l08/69[721 lnvenmm James Wesmskie, 2,911,217 11/1959 Hirsch ..108/1 12 ofReading, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Teledyne, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Dec. Canada PP NW ,801 Primary Examiner-Francis K. ZugelAttorney-Synnestvedt & Lechner [52] US. Cl ..l08/69, 108/80, 108/134 51Int. Cl. ..A47b 1/04 1 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..108/l1l, 72, 69,77, 80, 82, A work table having an extension board at an edgethereof-and 297/376 mounting mechanism by which the board may bepositioned t ed alternatively in any one of three positions, in one ofwhich the [5 6] Re erences board extends from the edge of the table, inanother of which UNITED STATES PATENTS the board projects upwardlyadjacent said edge of the table to act as a limiting stop, and in thethird of which the board is 491,098 2/1893 Gould ....297/376 stowedbeneath the table 2,604,140 7/1952 Bursey ....297/376 1,858,857 5/1932Huntley 108/69 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHZY I972 3,672,312

SHEET 1 BF 2 A TTOR NE Y5 PFENTEDJUNN I872 sum 2 m 2 INVENTORS Rem F.Pa'r'rrr JAM: F. wesuosmi A TTORNEYS WORK TABLE HAVING MULTIPOSITIONEXTENSION BOARD This invention relates to work tables. Although variousfeatures of the invention have wide applicability, the invention isparticularly concerned with work tables adapted for use in the garmentindustry.

In the performance of certain operations in the manufacture of garmentsit is of advantage to have a table top of large or extended surfacearea, and in the performance of other operations it is of advantage tohave an upwardly projecting limiting stop at the edge of the table, forinstance at the rear edge which may be utilized either as a guide forpositioning pieces of fabric on the table or for the purpose ofpreventing articles from dropping off the rear edge of the table. Forstill other purposes, a table top somewhat narrower than the fully.extended table top is preferred.

In order to meet certain of the foregoing operating requirements, it isknown to provide a drop leaf type of table extension providing extensionof the table surface for certain purposes and for folding of the dropleaf for certain other purposes.

The present invention contemplates an improved work table having anextension board which is conveniently adjustable between three differentpositions, in one of which the board serves as an extension of the tablearea, in another of which the board serves as a limiting stop at an edgeof the table, and in the third of which the board is stowed beneath thetable.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extension boardmounting arrangement providing for convenient adjustment between theseveral positions of the extension board without detachment of the boardfrom the table structure.

How the foregoing objects and advantages are attained, together withothers which will occur to those skilled in the art, is explained morefully hereinafter by reference to the accompanying drawings illustratinga preferred embodiment of work table according to the present invention,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the work table with the extension boardarranged along the rear edge of the table and shown in position toextend the table area;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the table shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the extension boardand the mounting mechanism, the board here being shown in position toextend the table area, as in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the extension board andparts of the mounting mechanism, this view being taken as indicated bythe section line 4-4 applied to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the board in itsposition of adjustment in'which the board projects upwardly at the edgeof the table to serve as a limiting stop; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 5 but illustrating still anotherposition of the extension board, i.e., the position in which the boardis stowed under the table.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the table is supported by legsindicated at 7 and bracing elements shown in FIG. 2 at 8. The table topitself may be made up of several sections such as shown at 9, 10, and 11in FIG. 1, and a drop leaf extension 12 may be provided as is also shownin FIG. 1. These table sections may be interconnected to form a unitarystructure in any desired manner which need not considered herein.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the front edge of the table isprovided with a cut-out shown at 13 in the region where the person usingthe table may sit. At the opposite or rear edge of the table anextension board 14 is provided. This board may extend along any desiredportion of the rear edge of the table, but in the embodiment shown theextension board extends along the entire rear edge, even including therear edge of the drop leaf 12.

The table extension board 14 is provided with mounting mechanismincluding adjusting channels 15 in the form of braces having slots 15a,six of these being used in the embodiment shown, as appears in FIG. 1.The arrangement and manner of interconnection of each adjusting channel15 with the extension board and with the table structure is shown inFIGS. 2-6 inclusive, in which figures various positions of adjustmentare also illustrated. One end of each adjusting channel l5 ispivotallyconnected at 16 with a bracket 17 having a flange by means of whichthebracket may be attached to the underside of the extension board 14 as bythe bolts 18.

The bracket 17 also has a projecting arm 19 having an open ended slot 20for receiving the shank of a bolt 21 which extends through the slot 15aof the adjusting channel 15 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4), this boltbeing provided with square head 22 adapted to fit inside of theadjoining channel 15. When this bolt 21 is tightened with the partspositioned as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the angular relationship between theadjusting channel 15 and the extension board 14 is fixed.

Toward the other end of the adjusting channel 15 attachment means areprovided for mounting the channel and thus the extension board upon aleg of the table structure. This arrangement is also best-seen in FIGS.3 and 4 in which one of the table legs appears at 7. Connected with aside of that leg there is a lock plate 23 which is positioned in spacedrelation to the leg 7 as seen in FIG. 4 but which has an offset flangeportion 24 lying adjacent to the leg 7 and connected therewith by thebolt 25. A spacer 26 is interposed between an upper portion of the lockplate 23 and a side of the leg 7, and a bolt 27 extends through thisspacer and the adjacent wall of the leg and also through the slot 15a,to provide a pivot about which the adjusting channel 15 may be swung.Bolt 27 has a square nut 28 fitting in the adjusting channel and servingto retain the adjusting channel in position with the pivot bolt 27projecting through the channel slot 15a.

The lock plate 23 still further has a slot indicated at 29 which is openat one end and which is adapted to receive the shank of a bolt 30 havinga squared head 31 positioned in the adjusting channel 15. Upontightening the nut with the parts positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4, the adjusting channel I5 is rigidly clamped in a fixed positionwith relation to the table structure. This will retain the extensionboard 14 in the position illustrated in FIGS. I4, and this is true evenif the nut 28 is not tightened on the bolt 27. Indeed it is preferred toprovide a nut and bolt arrangement at the pivot point in which the nutwill be retained upon the bolt without being tightened so that when theextension table is shifted to other positions, a pivoting action toanother position may occur without the necessity for loosening andtightening the pivot bolt.

The foregoing mounting arrangements provide for fixing the extensionboard in the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the board providesan extension of the table area.

When it is desired to position the extension board 14 as a limiting stopat the rear edge of the table (see FIG. 5) the nut and bolt 21-22 areloosened as are also the nut and bolt 30-31, the bolt 21 is disengagedfrom the slot 20 and the bolt 30 is moved in the slot 29 to the positionshown in FIG. 5. The adjusting channel is shifted in its position so asto bring the arm 19 of the bracket 17 upwardly against the underside ofthe table top with the extension board 14 preferably positioned inabutting relation to the rear edge of the table. The bolt and nut 30 and31 are then tightened and this tightening will retain the extensionboard in the position shown in FIG. 5.

If it is desired to shift the extension board to an inoperativeposition, it may be stowed beneath the table top by adjusting theposition of the parts to positions illustrated in FIG. 6. This positionof the board may be reached, for example from the position shown in FIG.3, by loosening the bolt and nut 21 and 22 and bolt and nut 30 and 31.The bolt 21 is then disengaged from the slot 20 in the bracket 17 andthe bolt 30 is disengaged from the slot 29, whereupon the adjustingchannel 15 is swung about the pivot bolt 27 until the point of pivotalconnection 16 of the channel with the bracket 17 is extended downwardlyfrom the channel pivot bolt 27. The parts will be retained in thisposition merely by the action of gravity. The bolt and nut 21 and 22 maybe removed if desired, or alternatively may merely be positioned alongthe channel member 15 between the bracket 17 for the extension board andthe lock plate 23, as is indicated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the various adjustments inposition of the extension board may be accomplished with ease andfurther that in each of the positions in which the board is utilized toperform a function in association with the table top, the board may besecurely fixed in the desired positron.

It is also of advantage that the shifting in position may beaccomplishcd without detachment of the extension board and, indeed, evenwithout detachment of mounting parts. A single extension board orelement is thus made to serve several alternative purposes.

lclaim:

l. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, andmounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable meansprovided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which anedge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, or in aposition in which the board is stored beneath the table, said mountingmechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinallyextending slot therein, means located at a fixed location relatively tosaid board and said elongated member pivotally securing one end of thesaid elongated member to said extension board, a table leg member, meanscarried by said table leg member including a pin projecting through saidslot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongatedmember is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby uponmanipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be movedbetween said three positions.

2. A work table including an extension board adapted to be positioned atan edge of the table, and mounting mechanism for the extension boardincluding adjustable means providing for mounting said boardalternatively in three ositions, in one of which the board is extendedfrom said edge of the table, and another of which an edge of the boardprojects upwardly adjacent to said edge of the table to act as alimiting stop at said edge of the table, and in the third of which theboard is stowed beneath the table, said mounting mechanism comprising anelongated member having a longitudinally extending slot therein, meanspivotally securing one end of said elongated member to said extensionboard, a table support member, means including a pin carried by saidsupport member with said pin projecting through said slot of saidelongated member and defining means on which said elongated member issupported for sliding and swinging movements, and slotted plate meanscooperating with said elongated member, whereby upon manipulation ofsaid elongated member said extension board may be moved into any one ofsaid three positions.

3. A work table as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanismadditionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member forreleaseably retaining said extension board in said position in which itextends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said positionin which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rearedge of the table.

4. A work table having from and rear edges and including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, andmounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable meansprovided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which anedge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, saidmounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having alongitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one endof the said elongated member to said extension board, a table supportmember, means carried by said table support member including a pinrojecting through said slot of said elongated member and efining meanson which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swingingmovements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member saidextension board may be moved between said three positions, and whereinsaid mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating withsaid elongated member for releasably retaining said extension board insaid position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of thetable and in said position in which an edge of the board projectsupwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said meansfor releasably retaining said extension board in said position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table comprises a bracket elementcarried by said extension board and having a slot extending inwardlyfrom an outer edge of said element and having a closed inner end andbolt means penetrating said longitudinally extending slot of saidelongated member and said slot of said bracket and engaging the closedend of said last mentioned slot.

5. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, andmounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable meansprovided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which anedge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, saidmounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having alongitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one endof the said elongated member to said extension board, a table supportmember, means carried by said table support member including a pinprojecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining meanson which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swingingmovements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member saidextension board may be moved between said two positions, and whereinsaid mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating withsaid elongated member for releasably retaining said extension board insaid position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of thetable and in said position in which an edge of the board projectsupwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said meansfor releasably retaining said extension board in said position in whichan edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable comprises a bracket member secured to and projecting from saidsupport member, said bracket member having a slot extending inwardlyfrom an open end at the outer edge of said bracket member andterminating in a closed inner end, and there is bolt means penetratingsaid slot in said elongated member and said slot in said bracket memberand engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot.

1. A work table having front and rear edges and including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, andmounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable meansprovided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which anedge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, or in aposition in which the board is stored beneath the table, said mountingmechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinallyextending slot therein, means located at a fixed location relatively tosaid board and said elongated member pivotally securing one end of thesaid elongated member to said extension board, a table leg member, meanscarried by said table leg member including a pin projecting through saidslot of said elongated member and defining means on which said elongatedmember is supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby uponmanipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be movedbetween said three positions.
 2. A work table including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at an edge of the table, and mountingmechanism for the extension board including adjustable means providingfor mounting said board alternatively in three positions, in one ofwhich the board is extended from said edge of the table, and another ofwhich an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to said edge ofthe table to act as a limiting stop at said edge of the table, and inthe third of wHich the board is stowed beneath the table, said mountingmechanism comprising an elongated member having a longitudinallyextending slot therein, means pivotally securing one end of saidelongated member to said extension board, a table support member, meansincluding a pin carried by said support member with said pin projectingthrough said slot of said elongated member and defining means on whichsaid elongated member is supported for sliding and swinging movements,and slotted plate means cooperating with said elongated member, wherebyupon manipulation of said elongated member said extension board may bemoved into any one of said three positions.
 3. A work table as definedin claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism additionally comprises meanscooperating with said elongated member for releaseably retaining saidextension board in said position in which it extends rearwardly from therear edge of the table and in said position in which an edge of theboard projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table.
 4. Awork table having front and rear edges and including an extension boardadapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, and mountingmechanism for the extension board including adjustable means providedfor mounting said board alternatively in a position extending rearwardlyfrom the rear edge of the table or in a position in which an edge of theboard projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table to act asa limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, said mounting mechanismcomprising an elongated member having a longitudinally extending slottherein, means pivotally securing one end of the said elongated memberto said extension board, a table support member, means carried by saidtable support member including a pin projecting through said slot ofsaid elongated member and defining means on which said elongated memberis supported for sliding and swinging movements, whereby uponmanipulation of said elongated member said extension board may be movedbetween said three positions, and wherein said mounting mechanismadditionally comprises means cooperating with said elongated member forreleasably retaining said extension board in said position in which itextends rearwardly from the rear edge of the table and in said positionin which an edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rearedge of the table, and wherein said means for releasably retaining saidextension board in said position extending rearwardly from the rear edgeof the table comprises a bracket element carried by said extension boardand having a slot extending inwardly from an outer edge of said elementand having a closed inner end and bolt means penetrating saidlongitudinally extending slot of said elongated member and said slot ofsaid bracket and engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot. 5.A work table having front and rear edges and including an extensionboard adapted to be positioned at the rear edge of the table, andmounting mechanism for the extension board including adjustable meansprovided for mounting said board alternatively in a position extendingrearwardly from the rear edge of the table or in a position in which anedge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable to act as a limiting stop at the rear edge of the table, saidmounting mechanism comprising an elongated member having alongitudinally extending slot therein, means pivotally securing one endof the said elongated member to said extension board, a table supportmember, means carried by said table support member including a pinprojecting through said slot of said elongated member and defining meanson which said elongated member is supported for sliding and swingingmovements, whereby upon manipulation of said elongated member saidextension board may be moved between said two positions, and whereinsaid mounting mechanism additionally comprises means cooperating withsaid elongated member for releasably retaining said extensIon board insaid position in which it extends rearwardly from the rear edge of thetable and in said position in which an edge of the board projectsupwardly adjacent to the rear edge of the table, and wherein said meansfor releasably retaining said extension board in said position in whichan edge of the board projects upwardly adjacent to the rear edge of thetable comprises a bracket member secured to and projecting from saidsupport member, said bracket member having a slot extending inwardlyfrom an open end at the outer edge of said bracket member andterminating in a closed inner end, and there is bolt means penetratingsaid slot in said elongated member and said slot in said bracket memberand engaging the closed end of said last mentioned slot.